Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

ABSTRACT Introduction The cystatin family is particularly relevant in lung cancer research due to its links to inflammation, protease balance, and tumor progression. Although population‐based studies have documented associations between cystatin and lung cancer, causal relationships remain undetermi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chunling Zhang, Riya Wu, Hang Liu, Shihuan Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:The Clinical Respiratory Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70112
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849731421303734272
author Chunling Zhang
Riya Wu
Hang Liu
Shihuan Yu
author_facet Chunling Zhang
Riya Wu
Hang Liu
Shihuan Yu
author_sort Chunling Zhang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Introduction The cystatin family is particularly relevant in lung cancer research due to its links to inflammation, protease balance, and tumor progression. Although population‐based studies have documented associations between cystatin and lung cancer, causal relationships remain undetermined. Methods Based on genomic statistics of seven different cystatins and three subtypes of lung cancer, we conducted a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. The inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) method was the main approach for causality estimation. The weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode, and MR‐Egger regression methods were further employed to validate the main findings. In the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy was assessed by MR‐Egger regression and Cochran’s Q test. MR‐PRESSO and Radial MR methods were used to identify heterogeneity and remove outliers. Results Genetically predicted Cystatin 8 was causally associated with squamous cell lung carcinoma (OR = 1.062, 95% CI: 1.004–1.124, p = 0.035). No causal relationships were found for genetically predicted cystatin 8, ‐B, ‐D, ‐F, or ‐M with squamous cell lung carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and NSCLC. However, outliers were identified between Cystatin D, ‐M, and ‐F using MR‐PRESSO and Radial MR. After the removal of outliers, the association between Cystatin D and lung adenocarcinoma turned significant (OR = 1.178, 95% CI: 1.023–1.358, p = 0.023). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of main results after outliers removal. Conclusion Genetically predicted Cystatin 8 was causally associated with squamous cell lung carcinoma. Future population‐based studies are required to substantiate these results.
format Article
id doaj-art-e12d6c1a1dd5461382abdf642ba1c0e9
institution DOAJ
issn 1752-6981
1752-699X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series The Clinical Respiratory Journal
spelling doaj-art-e12d6c1a1dd5461382abdf642ba1c0e92025-08-20T03:08:33ZengWileyThe Clinical Respiratory Journal1752-69811752-699X2025-07-01197n/an/a10.1111/crj.70112Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization StudyChunling Zhang0Riya Wu1Hang Liu2Shihuan Yu3Department of Pulmonary Disease The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaDepartment of Pulmonary Disease The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaDepartment of Pulmonary Disease The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaDepartment of Pulmonary Disease The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University Harbin Heilongjiang ChinaABSTRACT Introduction The cystatin family is particularly relevant in lung cancer research due to its links to inflammation, protease balance, and tumor progression. Although population‐based studies have documented associations between cystatin and lung cancer, causal relationships remain undetermined. Methods Based on genomic statistics of seven different cystatins and three subtypes of lung cancer, we conducted a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. The inverse‐variance weighted (IVW) method was the main approach for causality estimation. The weighted median, simple mode, weighted mode, and MR‐Egger regression methods were further employed to validate the main findings. In the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy was assessed by MR‐Egger regression and Cochran’s Q test. MR‐PRESSO and Radial MR methods were used to identify heterogeneity and remove outliers. Results Genetically predicted Cystatin 8 was causally associated with squamous cell lung carcinoma (OR = 1.062, 95% CI: 1.004–1.124, p = 0.035). No causal relationships were found for genetically predicted cystatin 8, ‐B, ‐D, ‐F, or ‐M with squamous cell lung carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and NSCLC. However, outliers were identified between Cystatin D, ‐M, and ‐F using MR‐PRESSO and Radial MR. After the removal of outliers, the association between Cystatin D and lung adenocarcinoma turned significant (OR = 1.178, 95% CI: 1.023–1.358, p = 0.023). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of main results after outliers removal. Conclusion Genetically predicted Cystatin 8 was causally associated with squamous cell lung carcinoma. Future population‐based studies are required to substantiate these results.https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70112causal correlationcystatinlung adenocarcinomaMendelian randomizationnon‐small cell lung cancersquamous cell lung carcinoma
spellingShingle Chunling Zhang
Riya Wu
Hang Liu
Shihuan Yu
Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
The Clinical Respiratory Journal
causal correlation
cystatin
lung adenocarcinoma
Mendelian randomization
non‐small cell lung cancer
squamous cell lung carcinoma
title Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
title_full Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
title_fullStr Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
title_full_unstemmed Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
title_short Causal Associations Between Cystatin and Lung Cancer: A Two‐Sample Mendelian Randomization Study
title_sort causal associations between cystatin and lung cancer a two sample mendelian randomization study
topic causal correlation
cystatin
lung adenocarcinoma
Mendelian randomization
non‐small cell lung cancer
squamous cell lung carcinoma
url https://doi.org/10.1111/crj.70112
work_keys_str_mv AT chunlingzhang causalassociationsbetweencystatinandlungcanceratwosamplemendelianrandomizationstudy
AT riyawu causalassociationsbetweencystatinandlungcanceratwosamplemendelianrandomizationstudy
AT hangliu causalassociationsbetweencystatinandlungcanceratwosamplemendelianrandomizationstudy
AT shihuanyu causalassociationsbetweencystatinandlungcanceratwosamplemendelianrandomizationstudy